Monday’s Headlines Don’t Throw Money at Roads

States are flush with cash from the bipartisan infrastructure bill, but they've opted to spend most of it on roads and bridges, and very little on transit.

By Blake Aued

12:01 AM EST on March 4, 2024

ITB495, CC|

Construction on I-69 in Indiana.

States have spent more than half the funding they received from the Bipartisan Infrastructure bill — about $70 billion — on roads, and only a fifth on transit (The Guardian, Streetsblog USA). Transportation for America called the road spending a "climate time bomb."
But the Biden administration did award $10 billion from the infrastructure bill to transit agencies, which is a 30 percent increase over what they'd normally receive under the existing funding formula. (E&E News)
A new government report found that Uber and Lyft don't keep adequate data on sexual and physical assaults, even as the ride-hailing companies face multiple lawsuits. (Smart Cities Dive)
Oil companies are fighting back against California cities that are banning new gas stations. (Grist)
The cost estimate for the Twin Cities' Bottineau Blue Line has ballooned to nearly $3 billion. (CCX Media)
Self-described "Broad Street Bullies" are taking over Richmond streets on bikes to get people talking about safety, even if it means they're seen as the bad guys. (Axios)
Tampa's streetcar is the most efficient in the U.S. in terms of dollars per rider, according to the conservative Cato Institute. (That's So Tampa)
Drivers killed 24 pedestrians in Raleigh last year. (Indy Week)
Alexandria, Virginia joined the short list of U.S. cities that have actually achieved Vision Zero. (Washingtonian)
Hoboken got to Vision Zero in part by removing parking spaces. (Washington Post)
Philadelphia's Indego bikeshare is considering reinstating a single-ride option it previously eliminated due to bike thefts. (Billy Penn)
Several Baltimore mayoral candidates want to stop building bike lanes or even remove ones that already exist. (Fox 45)
In Lubbock, you can get arrested for not walking on the sidewalk. (Everything Lubbock)
A new bus rapid transit line in Rio de Janeiro is expected to serve 250,000 people a day. (Transport Matters)
Toronto and Hamilton are two Canadian cities that are investing heavily in bike infrastructure. (National Observer)